You gotta give American Motors credit for trying. There were always cooking up something different than the competition. A case-in-point is the Eagle, the only 4-wheel-drive passenger car produced in the U.S. at the time. It was based on the AMC compact, the Concord (formerly Hornet), with technology borrowed from Jeep, which AMC had purchased in 1970. This 1984 station wagon edition of the Eagle looks to be in overall good condition, but the asking price suggests some work may be lurking. A tip from Pat L., this off-roader is located in Antigo, Wisconsin, and available here on craigslist for $4,000.
The Eagle was born in 1980 and stuck around through 1988, though the last year was under the supervision of Chrysler, who bought AMC in 1987. The vehicles were first available as coupes, sedans, and station wagons, and the company’s success with these cars led to sub-compact derivatives, the SX/4 and Kammback based on the Spirit (formerly Gremlin). The herd was thinned by 1984, with just sedans and station wagons offered, the latter comprising more than 80% of production that year (25,000 units in total).
Most Eagles were built with AMC’s tried-and-true 258 cubic inch-inline-6 and the seller’s offering has an automatic transmission. New for 1984 was Select Drive, which allowed the driver to shift to 4WD on the fly. Previously, Eagles required two hands to operate the shifting switch, making it difficult, if not impossible, to change while the car was moving. The later Eagles were not built in Kenosha, Wisconsin as AMC’s main plant had shifted to the production of the Renault Alliance and Encore. So, all of these Eagles would be Canadian, built in Brampton, Ontario.
The seller makes no references to any issues with this Eagle other than the odometer being broken at 98,000 miles. That also means the speedometer doesn’t work, too. It’s said to run and drive as it should and no apparent issues with the body, paint or interior seem to pop out. These vehicles were known for being durable, so if you’re looking for a 4X4 on a budget, could this Eagle fit the bill?
Seems like it will be sold right away, then flipped again. Too good of a car.
That’s a great price. Will be gone right away. Looks like larger tires were fitted, gives it a nice stance. Would make an awesome beach buggy. Dad sis a brief stint managing an amc dealer and he was really into these in the snow. Said it’s a car when you need it and a suburban when you need it. I guess it was ahead of its time. Subaru persisted.
Back in the early 80’s used to take my CJ7 up into gamelands to hunt, one jeep trail was up the side of a fairly steep mountain. Always used low range going downhill. One of these was always parked up top, even in snow. Was very impressed.
The amc eagle is what got me hooked on a lifetime of awd vehicles
Now drive a santa fe awd
I wouldn’t go back to an eagle but i love looking at them …
If I wasn’t 1500 miles away, it would be mine before sunset. They’re extinct here in New England because of rust. Excellent vehicles!
My name is Verlin J Boes and I have some interest in the wagon would you please give me a call I’m an old guy and I don’t use email left well my number is 816-223-7017 I have we got any rust involved in the car and it was the four-wheel-drive work I had a friend of mine that had a car like destiny had it forever really good car I am Nash AMC guy This car would be for me that’s why am asking all these questions I have a blessed day and when you call me back I have a Robo blocker on my phone so you’ll have to be a little patient with it and then when you get me on the phone tell me exactly know I called you and what about cause I get a lot of phone calls I don’t want but yours I do want God bless When I buy I’ll take good care of it God bless
Verlin J Boes, there’s a Craigslist link high-lighted in the first paragraph of this post. If you’ll click on the link, it’ll take you to the seller’s add. You should be able to contact the actual seller there. I hope this helps, sir.
I used to work in an AMC/Pontiac dealership “back in the day” and, I have to say, the single best, most reliable vehicles I ever worked on, I was a mechanic, were the AMC products. I’ve been looking for a nice Eagle but, have yet to find “the right one”. This one doesn’t sound like it’s the one, for me.
Best mail route vehicle I ever had. 3 of them over the years. Out performed Broncos and Jeeps.
Had an 81′ in the day. It would go anywhere in the woods! It had full time four-wheel drive, not good on the highway. Damn good car !
excellent idea (esp in the wagon) but still? subsumed under “usa’s auto #3”. I’m with Verlin, “Have the seller call me.”
Nowa Eagle Summit (nxt gen, under Chrysler) I’d be a callin THEM. See a sick version followed by TRC racing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh1QQMZCwoY
or the ’92/6 auto-catelogue:
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/model/eagle/summit_wagon.html